Lesson 5 Never too old to learn
活到老学到老

文章讲解

I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster's home. We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.

二、文章讲解部分

1. I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week.

知识点:
语法：非谓语动词
结构：完整句子，＋非谓语动词。
辨析： doing/done

1. ________ at in his way, the situation does not seem so desperate.
A. Looked. B. looking C. Being looked. D. to look

2. _____time, he’ll make a first-class tennis player.
a. Having b. Given c. Giving d. Had

2. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster's home.

知识点:
1)名词复数展开方式：向下展开。
2)定语从句：
All those who have contributed towards the giftwill sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster's home.

例： Students should involve themselves in community activities _______ they can gain experience for growth.

A. who B. when C. which D. where

例： Among the many dangers ______ sailors have to face , probably the greatest of all is fog .
A. which B. what C. where D. when

a black mark 污点
例：The incident left a black mark on his record.
mark your calendar!/Mark my words

3. We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school.

知识点:
1)we shall all remember …中的all
例：We all think it’s not your fault.
例：Thank you guys.

2)定语从句省略：
We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave uswhen we went so unwillingly to school.

4. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years.

知识点:
1)a great many ＋可数名词复数
2)it 三个用法
变形：That the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years is a curious coincidence.

3)just out of curiosity 只是处于好奇
例：Just out of curiosity, how did you two know each other?

5.After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.

扩展阅读：

What are the lessons people most often learn too late in life?

I am 67 years old. These are among the best things I have ever learned:
1.You spend your first 20 years worrying what people think about you. You spend your next 20 years swearing that you don’t care what people think about you. You spend the next 20 years realizing that they aren’t thinking about you. A liberation!
2.Any day on this side of the dirt is a good day. Some people didn’t make the cut last night. I was hit by a speeding taxi as I was walking to a bus stop. I spent a month in rehab with two broken legs, a brain injury, multiple back injuries and other fractures. The night before I was hit, a young, married couple was also hit. They both died. Practice gratitude.
3.A woman I know spends most of her time thinking about how much she hates her thighs. She can give you a detailed report on what is wrong with them. She forgets all the places those legs have taken her, all the miles they have walked for her. It doesn’t occur to her that when she gets up in the middle of the night to pee, those very thighs walk her to the toilet. Spend more time appreciating what you’ve got— a heart that beats, a way to pick up your cup of coffee, the eyes that see that cup and know what color it is. Blessings abound.
4.There are two kinds of people in this world – those who believe there is enough to go around, and those who don’t. Here is an example: If Margo is leaning up against the car kissing her boyfriend, and I think how nice that must feel, do I try to steal Margo’s boyfriend or do I go out and get my own boyfriend? I go out and get myself a boyfriend. I don’t need to steal Margo’s. I know that there is enough to go around.
5.An old Native American woman was asked why she was always so happy. She said that she has two wolves in her heart and they are both hungry— one wolf is angry and evil, the other wolf is filled with love, and that's the only one she feeds.


扩展口语：——机场9句话

1) How many pieces of luggage are you checking in?
2) Do you have a carry on?
3) Can you place your bag up here?
4) How many carry on bags are you taking with you?

5) Do you prefer window or aisle?

6) We do not have any aisle seats remaining. Is a window seat ok with you or would you prefer a middle seat?

7) Do you have a seat next to the emergency exit?
Can I have a seat closest to the emergency exit?

8) All the seats next to the exit have been taken. I have a seat directly in front of it. Would you like that one?

9) Here are your tickets. The gate number is on the bottom of the ticket. They will start boarding 20 minutes before the departure time. You should report to gate C2 by then. C2 is around the corner and down the hall. Thank you.